Automation show begins at McCormick Place

Automate 2015 will take place at McCormick Place's North Hall in Chicago, Ill., from March 23-26, 2015 and features more than 300 exhibitors supporting many industries including automotive, electronics, aerospace, and food and beverage.

Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

03/23/2015

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Automate 2015 will take place at McCormick Place's North Hall from March 23-26, 2015. The show is expected to beover 80% larger than in 2013 and features more than 300 exhibitors supporting many industries including automotive, electronics, aerospace, and food and beverage.

Automate 2015 showcases the trends and technology shaping the future of automation. According to a recent study by Boston Consulting Group, 72% of executives at U.S.-based manufacturing companies with sales of at least $1 billion say they plan to invest in additional automation or advanced manufacturing technologies within the next five years.

As automation becomes more cost effective and easier to implement, small to medium-sized businesses are also adopting robotics, machine vision and motion control technologies to help drive their bottom line. Visitors can see these technologies firsthand and learn how they can be incorporated into standing business models.

"Automation continues to play a large role in the industrial and manufacturing industries, driving efficiencies and safety for employees, while positively impacting the bottom line for organizations across the globe," said Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. "At this year's Automate, we are bringing together the greatest influencers and most innovative companies under one roof to show attendees the extensive benefits of automation. We've already seen our highest levels of exhibitors and registration yet, pointing to the explosive growth in our industry."

Attendees can also see the latest models from top producers of vision and motion control applications, in addition to collaborative robots helping evolve workplace automation.

Collaborative robots are a major theme at Automate this year. Designed from the ground up with the user in mind, robots like these retain the ability to understand human processes and seamlessly integrate into smaller workspaces alongside human counterparts.

In keeping with this collaboration theme, on Monday, March 23, Automate 2015 will also host the 8th IFR CEO Round Table Discussion focused on "Robots and People Working Together." Panelists represent perspectives from robot users, researchers and suppliers. Panelists include Stefan Bartscher, of BMW Group, Professor Henrik Christensen of Georgia Tech and Stuart Shepherd of Kuka US Holding, as well as executives from the companies mentioned above.

"The industry is seeing innovators across many fields create machines that help augment the work humans are doing, allowing them to focus more on tasks that require a higher level of thinking or expertise," said Rodney Brooks, founder, chairman, and CTO of Rethink Robotics. "These robots showcase the many positive aspects of automation, taking on jobs that humans cannot or should not do, while helping maintain productivity in the workplace."

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) represent the logic (decision) part of the control loop of sense, decide, and actuate. Featured articles in this digital report compare PLCs and programmable automation controllers (PACs), industrial PCs, and robotic controllers.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) represent the logic (decision) part of the control loop of sense, decide, and actuate. Featured articles in this digital report compare PLCs and programmable automation controllers (PACs), industrial PCs, and robotic controllers.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) represent the logic (decision) part of the control loop of sense, decide, and actuate. Featured articles in this digital report compare PLCs and programmable automation controllers (PACs), industrial PCs, and robotic controllers.